getting 7 inch pressed: where should my levels peak before sent out?

[goldenmean]

i put a final vtape on my stereo mixes and everything sounds pretty clear and good...its mostly sitting around -3 but sometimes bumps a little above. is this ok for me to send to be mastered and then plated at this level? or should i put it back in a fader and pull it down some more?

[huejahfink]

I don't cut myself, but from the many times I've had things cut... this sounds perfect for peaks.

I would maybe take another version without the vtape on the buss just in case. Maybe the engineer can achieve that sound in another way?

[Adam Dempsey]

Originally Posted by goldenmean

i put a final vtape on my stereo mixes and everything sounds pretty clear and good...its mostly sitting around -3 but sometimes bumps a little above. is this ok for me to send to be mastered and then plated at this level? or should i put it back in a fader and pull it down some more?

you mean -3dBFS? Totally fine, but also irrelevant. The final cutting level is in the hands of the lacquer cutting engineer, and your side duration, not your digital peak level.

[lucey]

Originally Posted by goldenmean

i put a final vtape on my stereo mixes and everything sounds pretty clear and good...its mostly sitting around -3 but sometimes bumps a little above. is this ok for me to send to be mastered and then plated at this level? or should i put it back in a fader and pull it down some more?

Focus on punch, center definition, and sibilance/hashy top end removal. Any level is fine, just skip the limiter or the clipping.

[Cellotron]

Digital peak levels are pretty much absolutely irrelevant, as long as they are somewhere below 0dBFs. Your levels will be attenuated by the mastering engineer operating the cutting lathe as needed.

Just make it sound good, don't clip the audio, tame any sibilance or high-endy percussive hits, if you want a loud level center bass frequencies, and you're pretty much set.

Best regards,
Steve Berson

[_noel]

Originally Posted by lucey

Focus on punch, center definition, and sibilance/hashy top end removal. Any level is fine, just skip the limiter or the clipping.

+1

For 7", I master as usual, just without a limiter. I also, like with any release, make sure I high pass and low pass anything about 40khz and below 12hz - do this with the massive passive's built in hpf and lpf.

Also, if you're getting a 7" done in the US, I highly suggest Archer Records. I just mastered Melt and got it pressed there. Turned out great and the prices were good too.

The home of Archer Record Pressing specializing in Record Pressing, Record Mastering, Record Plating and more.

Melt – Don’t Leave Me This Way – OUT NOW! (POS017) | Palms Out Sounds

[Sugarnutz]

Originally Posted by _noel

Also, if you're getting a 7" done in the US, I highly suggest Archer Records. I just mastered Melt and got it pressed there. Turned out great and the prices were good too.

Geez! I think I used to cut lacquers for Archer about 30 years ago, might have been for the Westbound/Eastbound catalog, dunno - too foggy. Amazed they're still in business if it's the same company.

[goldenmean]

sounds good, thanks much for the advice everyone.
final mixes were pretty balanced and good, but the vtape did bring everything up and seem to make it much clearer and a little more punchy. im not crazy about strapping stuff on final mixes but i really do like how vtape sounds and it still keeps things pretty dynamic.

[Paul Gold]

Originally Posted by Sugarnutz

Amazed they're still in business if it's the same company.

Mike Archer is running it now. I think his father passed away. They are not accepting new clients from what I hear. I used to send a lot of stuff there but they are too busy now. Bummer. he does a great job. If you are in Detroit it may be a little different.

[adamgonsa]

Agree about skipping the limiter. Lucey is spot on about center definition and cutting the high end nasties.

Regarding places to press, I have had lots of luck with Erika and Pirate's Press. I've done several projects through Erika with great results & I finished a 7" in July through PP that came out sounding terrific.

Never been part of a picture disc project (both places advertise that service heavily) but I suspect they don't sound as good.

[goldenmean]

Re: places to press records

not to go too off topic, but although several of the places suggested to press records do a good job, i use samples in my bands and so im pretty limited in who i can use when i try to press something. united even pays someone if they spot any kind of sample on a project, and theyll cease to finish it and still bill you wherever that may be in the pressing process. sometimes i sample myself and loop it but its made me paranoid to even try to get that by anyone. its really really frustrating. ive been using akai and emu samplers in creative ways for at least 15 years and the majority of plants out there dont even want to deal with it anymore. its not like im looping the rolling stones or pressing 2,000 lps. were talking about 300 copies for an underground band's 45.
there is a major distributor/label where i live that has been illegally pressing, bootlegging, and distributing rare garage/psych/60's lps for a very long time and it seems easier for them to continue pressing wax and ripping people off completely than it is for me to make totally new music with samples and press a small amount. blah.

/rant

also, any sample friendly pressing plants, pls recommend

[concretecowboy71]

If you are violating a copyright, why would a pressing plant put their biz on the line for your small amount of money.

Just asking?

[huejahfink]

I've signed a waiver in such situations and the places I've used have been fine with that. ^^

I don't know where you are based, but these guys have been ok

http://curvedpressings.com/